this story touched me, it hard to imagine losing a child to war, what a waste doesn't come close to describing the lose no matter on which sideJERUSALEM — When David Grossman's youngest son, Uri, was getting ready to join the Israeli army, the award-winning author decided that it was time to write a new book that he hoped might serve as a talisman for his boy as he went off to battle.
Instead, even after the United Nations had brokered a cease-fire set to take effect in 48 hours, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert ordered a massive last-minute offensive.
Joining in the controversial assault were Uri Grossman and his tank crew. Two weeks before his 21st birthday and two days after his father publicly spoke out against the war, Uri was killed in southern Lebanon.
"If you compare Israel to the magnitude of its dreams, it is a disappointment," Oz said. "But this is not about the nature of Israel; it's about the nature of dreams. Israel is a dream come true, and as such it is destined to taste sour — because it is fulfilled."
McClatchy Newspapers 2008
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/staff/dion_nissenbaum/story/31723.html